That fear should have been allayed following the FA Cup semi final.
I think you've contradicted yourself there. Not only was it by a single point, they were also put out of the Champions League by Tottenham.
No, the odds reflect the fact that city won 18 of their home League games last season. They surprisingly lost the other when you would have thought a draw more likely. Maybe the bookmakers are saying it's 50:50 as to whether City will lose another home game this season and if they do, far more...
That's an urban myth, put about (I suspect) by City supporters jealous of the coaches from all over the country that thronged the car parks around Old Trafford.
My edit to a more up-to-date pic failed.
They're planning to do the other end too, which will increase the capacity to 63,000 making it the second biggest club ground in the UK... and in Manchester.
So steep!